Since this adapter is quite popular and interesting accessory i have decided to help James here with a bit of free advertising (a small banner is added to our free beaner rotator on the left).
Hopefully, this thread will also serve for any Q&A if needed.

I hope dyxum members won't mind having these banners in our forum but i feel obligated to "abuse" dyxum traffic and help a bit those who are working to make our system even better.

M42->MAF Adapter With Focus Confirmation

This M42-MAF electronic adapter has an electronic component that communicates with Minolta AF/Alpha SLR bodies in the same way as compatible lenses. When the camera is powered on, it reports data from the adapter to the body. Using the adapter, focus confirmation will be shown in the viewfinder and Anti-Shake/SSS will be effective (providing correct focal length information has been selected).

** Preset Lens data (Only valid for Multiple Data Adapters)
1. Switch off camera, mount the adapter and MF Lens
2. Switch on camera – by multiple half-press and releases of the shutter button within 10 seconds you can select one of 4 focal length/aperture combinations (in order, 50/1.4, 85/1.4, 135/2.8 & 200/3.5).
3. If you want to reset to the adapter at any time you should turn off the camera and repeat step 2

** Operation
1. Mount the adapter to camera body, set AF/MF switch to MF. Turn on camera.
2. by multiple half-press and releases of the shutter button within 10 seconds you can select one of 4 focal length/aperture combinations (in order, 50/1.4, 85/1.4, 135/2.8 & 200/3.5).
3. There are two ways to set aperture, you can set aperture value same as real Len’s aperture, then you can record right aperture value in Exif . the process steps are:
a) Fully open the MF Lens aperture.
b) Set the aperture value to the one you want.
c) Half press shuttle button and adjust focus, the focus confirmation LED will light when in focus.
d) Press AEL lock for a measured value.
e) Set MF Lens aperture same as you set in step b).
f) Take picture.
4. The other way is very simple. Just set body’s aperture in minimum value. In this way, they will not record correct aperture in Exif. The steps are:
a) Set body’s aperture to minimum value (wide open)
b) Open the MF Lens aperture to ease focusing.
c) Half press shuttle button and adjust focus, the focus confirmation LED will light when in focus.
d) Set MF Lens aperture the desired value.
e) Take picture.

** Note：
1. For maximum effect with AS/SSS, you should choose the same lens focal length as the MF lens being used; for instance, if you use a Takumar 50/1.4, set the Adaptor to AF50/1.4. When you use a 135/2.8 MF lens, set to AF135/2.8. If you are using a lens where the focal length is not one of the four available the effectiveness of AS/SSS may be less than optimal.
2. Please note that rough treatment and handling of the M42-MAF adapter may effect alignment of electrical contacts.

As an additional tip, I find it's easier to get into the focal length selection mode if you first unmount the adapter from the camera while the power is still on (no need to take it off, just turn it far enough to disengage the electric contacts), then power off, wait a couple of seconds, remount adapter, power back on. Then start half-pressing the shutter (and keep turning the aperture control toward wide open, so you can see when it changes, as that is the best signal of which focal length is selected).

Also note that EyeStart AF can trigger the half-press, so when you have the correct setting selected, wait for a few seconds to be sure the selection mode is no longer active. (Otherwise EyeStart AF is good, for use with the focus confirmation.)

Personally I highly recommend the James Lao electric adapter, the latest generation is superb mechanically as well as electronically (I also have an earlier one which was not as good mechanically, but the new ones are at least as good as any others I've had).

Trick -
how to get "focus trap" with your m42 lenses and James' adapter:

*Set your fire priority to focus priority instead of shutter priority within your camera config
*Set the camera to AF (yes, unfortunately the AF pin will make some grinding noise)
*Press shutter button, and keep it pressed
*Focus
*The shutter will only fire when the focus is correct

I admit that I still struggle in selecting the right data set sometimes. If the aperture isn't set to wide open on the camera you have no way of immediately knowing which data set you are on as you scroll through them with half pushes of the shutter release button. But my experience is that if I rotate the front wheel to set the camera to max aperture it closes the time window for data selection and locks into which ever one you're on. So then I have to unmount, power down, power up again... Sometimes it takes me multiple tries before I get it. It doesn't help that my adapter is set for the 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/1.8 and 135/3.5 That means the first and last data sets have the same max aperture so it's really hard to know which one I'm on. I end up having to take a picture and check the exif to know for sure.

I admit that I still struggle in selecting the right data set sometimes. If the aperture isn't set to wide open on the camera you have no way of immediately knowing which data set you are on as you scroll through them with half pushes of the shutter release button. But my experience is that if I rotate the front wheel to set the camera to max aperture it closes the time window for data selection and locks into which ever one you're on. So then I have to unmount, power down, power up again...

I share the same experience. However, even if I have to (partially) unmount the lens, I don't power down/up the camera. The process works fine with the camera kept powered on.

Thanks kiklop's kindy help.
Thanks for friends' advices about the adapter since years ago.
Now the adapter with focus confirmating looks useful and powerful, there are a lot of your supports in it. Look the posts above, you give lots of skills usefully beyond my knowledge.
I'd like reply what i known about the adapter also.

I admit that I still struggle in selecting the right data set sometimes. If the aperture isn't set to wide open on the camera you have no way of immediately knowing which data set you are on as you scroll through them with half pushes of the shutter release button. But my experience is that if I rotate the front wheel to set the camera to max aperture it closes the time window for data selection and locks into which ever one you're on. So then I have to unmount, power down, power up again... Sometimes it takes me multiple tries before I get it. It doesn't help that my adapter is set for the 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/1.8 and 135/3.5 That means the first and last data sets have the same max aperture so it's really hard to know which one I'm on. I end up having to take a picture and check the exif to know for sure.

Sorry for your struggle.
There is a suggestion that you can remember the order of the data sets,for your adapter , this is 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/1.8 and 135/3.5 . When the first time the adapter was mounted. They must begin with 28/3.5 .So if half press->release the shutter button once, the data move to the next one in the fixed order.
If you want use the 35/3.5, you should wait above 10 seconds after the adapter mounted.
If you want use the 135/3.5, you should half press->release the shutter button three times and wait seconds after the adapter mounted.
When you familiar with this,should not set and check the max aperture.

Perhaps we should merge James' old sales thread and this thread. Also, it might be a good idea if James kept all of his Dyxum sales posted in the first post just so the members here who order can keep track of their order without constantly emailing/PM'ing James. Kind of like this
--------------------------------------------
Single ID Chip: $XX
Single ID Chipped M42 Adapter: $XX

But my experience is that if I rotate the front wheel to set the camera to max aperture it closes the time window for data selection and locks into which ever one you're on.

Doesn't do that for me, if I keep half-pressing enough times it will still work (as long as the whole thing happens in the 10 seconds or so). My usual power-up routine is half-pressing and rotating the wheel at the same time very fast until I see the aperture changing in the viewfinder. Then I slow down until I reach the correct value.

revdocjim wrote:

It doesn't help that my adapter is set for the 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/1.8 and 135/3.5 That means the first and last data sets have the same max aperture so it's really hard to know which one I'm on.

Yes, I recommend everyone order an adapter with a different aperture for each focal length, even if it doesn't exactly match your lens. Or at the very least arrange the order of settings so that no two consecutive ones (which include first and last) have the same aperture.

Yes, I recommend everyone order an adapter with a different aperture for each focal length, even if it doesn't exactly match your lens. Or at the very least arrange the order of settings so that no two consecutive ones (which include first and last) have the same aperture.

I wasn't given the option of changing the order of data sets, and I wouldn't think it wise to intentionally select a max aperture that doesn't match the lens.

Since I really only use 3 of my M42 lenses, I've wondered if it wouldn't be easier to simply get a single lens adapter for each of them, with the appropriate data for each.

I wouldn't think it wise to intentionally select a max aperture that doesn't match the lens.

Why not? For the metering you'll probably be using M mode anyhow, or at least need to apply exposure compensation. The only problem might be having much too wide a maximum aperture so the focus confirm would become too sensitive (although doesn't seem problematic on the A100 using an f/4 with a reported f/2.8 or an f/2.8 with a reported f/1.1).

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